Apparatus for processing tubular metal workpieces



May 12, 1936. R. u. GEIB. JR 2,040,477

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TUBULAR METAL WORKPIECES Filed Oct. 9, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l [Mei 0107': EOEEET 6! 65/5, JR,

May 12, 1936. R. u. GEIB. JR

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TUBULAR METAL WORKPIECES Filed Oct. 9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 5 Z 7 6 a /5 60 w I n o no m J o m one J o W m mm 2 5 M M w L 1| IW1 11% 5 @fi w w m o J no 4 m m o 6: f F o m mq 6 Wu flaw ww WW 5 w w 7 g 4 g F 4 :EEEE: n h w w May 12, 1936. R. u. GEIB. JR 2,040,477

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TUBULAR METAL WORKPIECES Filed Oct. 9, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 12, 1936 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TUBULAR f METAL WORKPIECES I 'Robert U. Geib, Jr., Edgewood, Pa. Application October 9, 1933, Serial No. 692,878 9 Claims. (01. 80-13) This invention relates to an apparatus for processing tubular metal work-pieces in the manufacture of seamless pipes and tubes from solid rounds, or billets", and to any and all of the various operations used therein.

In the manufacture of seamless pipes and tubes it has, in the past, been-very difiicult to obtain flawless products from the power-actuated metalworking rolls commonly used therein. Extreme 10 care must be exercised in the processing of the metal of the billet, or work-piece, or numerous defects, or variances, will result.

A number of comparatively late developments tend to overcome a great many of the usual difflculties in obtaining flawless products, in addition to very substantially increasing delivery speeds. In accordance with these principles, the conventional stationary work-piece guides are superseded by power-actuated grooved rolls, ro-

tating on axes substantially at right angles to the pass defined by the metal-working rolls of the mill, and each having a peripheral velocity in the direction of and greater than the longitudinal travel of the work-piece progressing therethrough. i r

The effect of these power-actuated guide rolls is to lower the usual resistance to rotation of the work-piece offered by the stationary guides, and to greatly assist the longitudinal travel thereof.

That is to say they divert longitudinally the peripheral, or tangential, flow of the metal of the work-piece which is imposed by the metal-working rolls. In order to accomplish this result with any degree of satisfaction, the guide rolls should cause a tension, or at least materially reduce the compression of the metal in those portions of the pass wherein the greater part of the processing is done.

The conventional disposition of these guide rolls was with their closest contact surfaces at the gorge, or most constricted portion of the. pass, which permitted too much distortion, or ovality, in the outlet end of the pass, with the result that the metal of the work-piece was diverted from a tangential into a longitudinal direction in an improper manner, or degree. Under these conditions, not only was it diflicult to control the diameter of the workpiece, but numerous other variances were encountered, together with accompanying flaws in the product.

More recent developments have taught that guide rolls should be disposed with their closest contact surfaces at the outlet end of the pass; for the reason that the metal of the work-piece displaced by the metal-working rolls is free at this section to move in a longitudinal direction. If the metal of the work-piece is unusually plastic it will, of course, offer very little resistance to displacement, and advantage could be taken, of this fact by disposing the contact sur- 5 faces of the guide rolls even farther in the outlet end of the pass. However, this highly desirable condition of the metal is not constantly encountered in successive, or even single, workpieces. 10 If the metal of the work-piece is not unusually plastic, due to insufiicient heating or other causes,

.the guide roll contact surfaces should still be disposed in the outlet end of the pass, but at a point more adjacent the gorge" of the metal-working 15 1 ing conditions referred to. The guide roll contact areas are moved longitudinally in the pass to 30 positions in direct ratio, or proportion, to the degree of the plasticity of the metal of the workpiece, assuring the exactly proper displacement thereof under all conditions. 7

Inaccordance with the teaching of this 00- 5 pending application, the axes of rotation of the guide rolls are made to travel exactly parallel to the horizontal center-line of the pass. In piercing operations, wherein a conical plug is used, the guide rolls travel relative to the plug, 40 and accordingly move closer to the surface of the latter as it approaches the outlet end of the pass.

It is, of course, true that the closest contact surfaces of the guide rolls will be in the extreme outlet end of the pass, and consequently closer to 45 the surface of the piercing plug only when the metal of the work-piece is unusually plastic and therefore easily displaced.

In practice, the guide roll contact surface will serve only to divert the tangential displacement 50 of metal of the work-piece into a longitudinal direction, and not move too close to the nearest surface of the piercing plug. That is to say, the guide rolls are initially disposed with the distance between them greater than the distance 55 between the metal-working rolls, with the 'result that even as the guide rolls contact surfaces move closer to the outlet end of the pass they will not be closer to the surface of the piercing plug I provided for eliminating all of the difficulties than thecorresponding surfaces of the metalworking rolls. This will permit a slight distortion, or ovality, of the work-piece even to the end of the zone of contact of the guide rolls, it being understood, of course, that the metalworking rolls continue their contact until it is rounded-up immediately prior to its exit from the mill. In order to permit this necessary ovality at points adjacent the outlet end of the mill, it naturally follows that the distortion must be provided to a considerably greater extent at points adjacent the gorge of the pass, due to' the taper of the piercing plug. 7

Some types of metal will permit'of obtaining acceptable products even if it is given varying amounts of distortion while being processed in the mill, although it would be decidedly superior if this condition could be avoided. Other types of metal cannot even be processed to an acceptable product, due to the inability of the mill to control its movement in such manner as to avoid what, because of its characteristics, is excessive distortion.

It will thus be seen, by those skilled in the art, that ordinarily the distortion-limiting effect of the guide rolls should be constant, or substantially so, throughout the entire length of the pass. That is, the same degree 0 ovality should accrue adjacent the gorge of the pass as when the work-piece is about to encounter the final rounding-up effect of the metal-working rolls in the extreme outlet, end of the pass.

According to the present invention, means are compensating means for maintainingconstant/ the function of the apparatus when used in piercing operations.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the numeral 2 designates a housing for; part of the apparatus of the invention. A pair of bearings 3 are mounted one on each side of the housing 2 for rotatably supporting a pair of suitably driven shafts 4, each of the latter having secured to its end a conventional metal working roll 5, such as is commonly used in the manufacture of seamless pipes and tubes.

The housing 2 is apertured on each of its sides in such manner as to provide rectangularly with a wedge-shaped bearing block IS in such 2 manner as to fit snugly within each of the upper frames 1. The bearing blocks 19 are each provided with a way, as at 28.

All of the bearing blocks 8, I0, l5, and I! areprovided with ears 2| which enable'them to be 30 snugly heldin their respective frames bymeans of capscrews 22.

A relatively square sliding block'23is internally bored and screw-threaded, as at 24, and

provided with upper and lower tongues 25 and 5 28 for cooperation with dzhe ways in the several pairs of upper and lower bearing blocks 8 and I0, respectively. r

Each of the sliding blocks 23 is provided with a bearing 21 which is atright angles to the screwthreaded bores 24, u

A sliding block 28 is similarly bored and screwthreaded, as at 29, and provided with tongues 30 and 3| which are adapted to cooperate with the ways in the upper pairs of bearing blocks l5 and I9, respectively. Each of the sliding blocks 28 is provided with a bearing 32 which is at right angles to the screw-threaded bore 29.

or substantially so, the degree of ovality, or

distortion. A still further object is to provide a novel means for automatically controlling the diversion in accordance'with the varying temperature ofsingle, on successive, work-pieces; separate means compensating for the various degrees of plasticity characteristic of different metals at the same temperature;. together with means for maintaining constant the degree of distortion, or ovality, of the work-piece throughout the entire pass-- The foregoing and further objectswill be apparent after referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure '1 is a plan of the apparatus of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of a part thereof."

Figure 3 is an elevation taken from the inlet end of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan graphically representing the function of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a. sectional elevation representing The construction being the same on either side of the housing 2, as described, means are provided for rotatably supporting a shaft 33 in the bearings of the lower sliding blocks 23,a nd a shaft 35 in the journals 32 of the upper sliding blocks The shaft 33 carries a grooved guide roll 34 intermediate its ends, while the shaft '35 carries a guide roll 38 which is similarly disposed.

A motor 31 is mounted adjacent the housing 2 andprovided with a transmission unit 38, hav-' ing a lower driven shaft 39 on which there is mounted a gear 40. The transmission unit 38 is also provided with a shaft 4| carrying a gear 42 which is in constant mesh with the gear 48. The lower driven shaft 39 drives the lower guide roll shaft 33 through a shaft 43 and'universal 'joints 44 and 45. The upper guide roll shaft 35 p is driven from the shaft 4| by means of a connecting shaft 46 and universal joints 4'! and 48.

The housing 2 has an extension 49 on either side of the "pass, which provides a bearing for (meet the shafts 50. A shaft 52 is driven by each of the shafts 59 through a universal joint 5!, and

has a threaded end 53 which is adapted to coopenlarged apertures 54 in the housing 2, thus enabling the variations in their angular dispositions.' A shaft 55 is similarly journaled in a bearing provided by each of the extensions 49 above the metal-working rolls 5. Each shaft 55 is provided with a universal joint 56 to which there is connected a shaft 51 having a threaded end 58. Each of the shafts 51 is extended through an enlarged aperture 59 in the housing 2 and adapted to have its threaded end 58 cooperate with the bore 29 in one of the sliding blocks 28.

A gear 60 is secured to each of the shafts 50 Each of the gears 60 is adapted to constantly mesh with a gear 6|, one of which is secured to each of the shafts 55. Each of the shafts 50 carries a worm gear 62, which, when rotated, will cause synchronous rotation of the shafts 52 and 51 in such manner as to move the sliding blocks 23 and 28 toward and away from the metalworking rolls 5.

A shaft 63 is mounted transversely of the line of pass and carries a worm 66 for engagement with each of the worm gears 62. A gear 65 is mounted on the shaft 63 for enabling its rotation.

A heat-responsive circuit making-and-breaking device, such as a conventional photoelectric control unit, generally indicated in the drawings at 66, is trained on a work-piece A which is being processed at apoint immediately before it is contacted by the metal-working rolls 5, and provides means for registering a relatively wide temperature range inherent in the work-piece at this point. The heat-responsive circuit makingand-break'ing device 66 is operatively associated with a motor control box 61.

The motor control box 61 is provided with any of the well known commercial types of starting and stopping devices, limit relays and reversing media for automatically operating an adjacent motor 68 in accordance with the temperatures registered by the heat-responsive circuit making and-breaking device 66.

A selective gear reduction transmission unit 69 having the usual manual selector It, is connected to the motor 66 and has a driven-gear I! which is in constant mesh with the gear 65 on the worm shaft 63.

The function of the selective gear reduction transmission unit 69 is to further, and adjustably, modify the operation of the motor control box 67, in order to compensate for varying conditions existent at the mill.

Referring to Figure of the drawings'a piercing plug 72, having a truly conicel contour and a rounded point, is shown as mounted on a mandrel bar it and positioned with its point adja-- cent the most constricted portion of the pass, as defined by the gorge of the metal-working rolls 5. a

In operation, the work-piece A, in the present instance a solid round, or billet, which is to be pierced, is introduced between the metalworking rolls 5 wherein it is necked down in accordance with the usual practice, to obtain a tendency of the central fibers of the metal to open preparatory to its being forced over the point of the piercing plug'l2.

This necking down operation directs the metal of the billet into vertical, or ovality. From the gorge of the metal-working rolls 5, where the actual piercing operation is initiated, this tendency toward ovality" is much greater less of the longitudinal as the billet being pierced progresses through the outlet of the" mill, and should therefore be limited "as much as possible in order .to avoid" defects" in the processed work-piece.

As the function of'the guide rolls 34 and 36 is to limit this injurious'distortion and to. divert the successive work-piece from circumferential into longitudinal movement, they should be located as near the outlet of the metal-working rolls 5 as possible, as it is more freely displaced from this point.

Obviously, this condition is particularly true if.

the work-piece is very highly heated, and therefore unusually plastic. If, for any reason, the

single, work-pieces, the heat-responsive circuit making-and-breaking device 66 actuates' the devices of the motor control unit 6'! for automatically starting, stopping and reversing the operation of the motor 68, which will function through the selective gear reduction transmission unit 69 to properly position the axes of the guide rolls 34 and 36 longitudinally with respect to the metal-working rolls 5, and the piercing plug 12. The lever is manually set to compensate this-operation in accordance with varying conditions of plasticity characteristic of different metals at the same temperature.

If desired, the heat-responsive circuitmakingand-breaking device 66 may be disconnected, and the motor control unit 6''! actuated manually by an operator who is in a position to closely observe-the condition of the work-piece. Due to the fact that the angle of diversion afforded by the various removable bearing blocks 8, it, and i9 is substantially the same as the angle of expansion. of the piercing plug 12, the guide rolls, while varying with respect to one another, will always be spaced approximately the same distance from the most adjacent surface ,of the piercing plug. In other words, the difference between the surface of the piercing plug and the effective contact area of the guide rolls 3d and 36 will be substantially constant, regarddisposition of the axes of the guide rolls.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, three ppsitions of the guide roll 36 have been illustrated with respect to the work-piece, as at A, A and A.

In Figure 5, three longitudinal positions of the increments of the metal of the guide rolls 34 and 36 are disclosed relative to the course, does not vary 6 the guide rolls move toward the outlet end of the pass they also diverge from the center-line of the mill in a degree determined by the relative angles of the bearing blocks, which correspond with the taper of the conical piercing plug 72. The centerline of the guide roll 34, in three positions in the mill, is illustrated by the characters 34, 34 and 86, while the corresponding position of the upper guide roll 36 is illustrated by the characters 36, 36 and 36. The peripheries of the guide rolls with respect to the work-piece is represented in the three various positions by the characters A, A and A.

The sliding blocks 23 and 2B are fitted within limited to the specific means for moving the sliding blocks 23 and 28 away from the mandrel, or piercing plug; that any satisfactory secondary modifier for the final effect of the motor 58 may be used instead of the selective gear reduction transmission unit 29; that any other satisfactory means maybe used for controlling the operation of the motor 68 in lieu of the devices mentioned to be associated with the motor control unit 61;

that any heat-responsive electric circuit makingand-breaking device may be used instead of the suggested photoelectric unit 66; that the invention is not limited to piercing operations but may be used with any type of metal-working rolls and mandrel; and that while I have shown and described one specific embodiment of the remainder of the invention, I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since varidus modifications may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for processing tubular workpieces comprising, in combination, a pair of power-actuated metal-working rolls, a mandrel, means for divert-ing longitudinally the tangential flow of the metal accruing from the action of the metal-working rolls, means for automatically regulating the longitudinal disposition of said diverting means with respect to said metal-working rolls in accordance with the plasticity of-the metal of the work-piece, means for maintaining substantially constant the pressure of said diverting means on said work-piece, and secondary means for modifying the street of said regulating means.

2-. Apparatus-flier processing tubular workpieces comprising, iriJcombination, a pair of power-actuated metal-working rolls, a mandrel,

at least one extraneous device for diverting longitudinally the tangentialflow of the metal of the piece to,a position determined by its temperature,

said supporting and moving means providing for maintaining substantially constant the pressure oi the work-piece accruing ofsaid extraneous deviceon said work-piece, and secondary regulating means for further modifying the longitudinal disposition of said extraneous device in accordance with the resistance to displacement of the metal of the work-p ece.

' 3. In apparatus for processing tubular worka pair of power-actuated metal said housing above rnd below said metal-working rolls, said guideways diverging in a vertical plane from said metal-working rolls at angles corresponding to the surface of said mandrel, a block in each of said guideways, extraneous devices supported by said blocks and acting to divert longitudinally the tangential flow of the metal from the metal-working rolls. and means for moving said blocks in working rolls supported by said housing, a mandrel, removable guideways associated with said housing above and below said metal-working rolls, said guideways diverging in a vertical plane from said metal-working rolls at angles corresponding to the surface of said mandrel, a block in each of said guideways, extraneous devices supported by said blocks and acting to divert longitudinally the tangential 'fiow of the metal of the work-piece accruing from the metal-working rolls, and means for moving said blocks in said guideways to positions determined by the temperature of the metal of the workpiece.

5. In apparatus for processing tubular workpieces, a housing, a pair of power-actuated metalworking rolls supported by said housing, a mandrel, removable guideways associated with said housing above and below said metal-working rolls,

said guideways diverging in a vertical plane from said metal-working rolls at angles corresponding to the surface of said mandrel, a block in each of said guideways, extraneous devices supported by said blocks and acting to divert longitudinally the tangential flow of the metal of the workpiece accruing from the metal-working rolls,

means for moving said blocks in said guideways to positions determined by the'temperature of the metal of the work-piece, and secondary means for further modifying the positions of said blocks in accordance with the resistance to displacement of the metal of the work-piece.

6. In apparatus for processing tubular workpieces, a housing, a pair of power-actuated metalworking rolls supported by said housing, removable guideways disposed in apertures above and below the pass line of said metal-working rolls and on either side thereof, a block in each of said guideways, extraneous guiding and assisting devices for said work-piece supported by said blocks,

and means for moving said blocks into positions.

determined by the plasticity of the metal of the workpiece. said removable guideways diverging from the horizontal. center line ofthe mandrel at angles corresponding to, its'working surface.

7. In apparatus for processing tubular Workpieces, a housing, a pair of power-actuated metalworldng rolls-supported, by said housing, a mandrel, removable guideways disposed in apertures above and below the pass line of said metalworking rolls and on either side thereoii'each of said guidewayshaving a keyway, a block in each of said guideways, each of said blocks having a tongue adapted'to seat in one of said keyways,

extraneous guiding and assisting devices for said work-piece supported by saidblocks, means for moving said blocks into positions determined by the plasticity of the metal of the work-piece, said removable guideways diverging from the horizontal center line of the mandrel at angles corresponding to the Working surface of said mandrel, :and means for maintaining a spaced relationship between the guideways' in each aperture.

, 8. Apparatus for manufacturing pipes and tubes comprising a plurality of power-actuated metal-working rolls, said metal-working rolls being constructed and arranged to move the workpiece longitudinally and work the material of which it is composed, whereby portions or the work-piece are caused to bulge intermediate the metal-working rolls, at least one power-actuated guide roll disposed intermediate said metalworking rolls for limiting the bulging of the material of the work-piece and moving it longitudinally of its axis, in combination with means for registering the temperature of the work-piece, and means operated by said temperature-registering means for moving said power-actuated guide roll axially with respect to the direction of longitudinal movement of the work-piece, said last named means being constructed and arranged to move said guide roll toward and away from the axis of said work-piece. 9. Apparatus for manufacturing pipes an tubes comprising a plurality of power-actuated metal-working rolls, said metal-working rolls being constructed and arranged to move the workpiece longitudinally and work the material of which it is composed, whereby portions of the work-piece are caused to bulge intermediate the metal-working rolls, at least one power-actuated guide ro'll disposed intermediate said metal-workrolls for limiting the bulging of the material of the work-piece and moving it longitudinally of its axis, in combination with means for registering the temperature of the work-piece, means op erated by said temperature-registering means for moving said power-actuated guide roll axially with respect to the direction 'of longitudinal movement of the work-piece; said last named means being constructed and arranged to move said guide roll toward and away from the axis of said work-piece, and separate means for modifying the operation of said last named means.

' .ROBERT U. GEIB, JR. 

